Minty Coconut-Lime Energy Drink

Can I just tell you that I love having fresh produce?  I get a basket of fruits and vegetables every week and split it with my brother.  Most of the time we'll get extra add-on packs, as well.  Both last week and this week we got a tropical pack add-on...this definitely is helping us get through the end of February in Utah. ;)  In that tropical pack we had an assortment of amazing produce, including a coconut, a pineapple, mangos, lemons, limes, mint leave, vanilla beans.... Anyway, when I opened up my coconut (to make coconut chips) I saved the coconut water, and figured I'd put it in a smoothie or something.  Well, that something was the next day...I was exhausted by dinnertime, and I mean totally beat.  I get up at 4:30 everyday, work 8 hours, along with fitting in making breakfast, lunch, and dinner for my family and running them wherever they need to be...sometimes, by the evening, I'm just ready to be done.  Well, I didn't have the option of being done yet, and had the though, I just need a nice drink to perk me up....well, this is what happened, and it worked.  It perked me up and I made it the rest of the day. :)

Minty Coconut-Lime Enery Drink
6-8 fresh mint leaves
Coconut water from one coconut (~1 cup coconut water)
juice from one lime
1 packet stevia powder

Directions
Place the mint leaves in the bottom of a glass, and crush them to release their oils.  Add rest of the ingredients and mix well, and enjoy!

This post was shared on Slightly Indulgent Tuesdays, Gluten Free Wednesday, Allergy Free Wednesdays, Whole Food Fridays, and Gluten Free Fridays.

Hot Cocoa Mix Take Two (just add water)

A few months back I made a hot cocoa mix that was pretty dang good.  I have since modified it to be more like regular hot cocoa mixes, meaning that instead of adding in hot milk, all you need to add is water.  So, it's the same basic hot cocoa mix, but with Vance's Darifree Non-Dairy Milk Powder added to make it even faster and easier to make a hot cup of cocoa. Enjoy!

Dairy-Free Hot Cocoa Mix
3 1/2 cups sugar
2 1/4 cups cocoa
1 tablespoon table salt
3 cups Darifree Milk Powder

Directions
In a large bowl, combine sugar, cocoa, salt, and Darifree, and whisk to combine well.  Store the mixture in an airtight container.

For individual servings, heat 1 cup of water.  Place 3 tablespoons of the cocoa mix into a mug, and slowly stir in the hot water, mixing as you're stirring (I find you have less lumps if you do it this way, then adding the mix to the milk).